MRes Engineering Management
Course Overview
The engineering sector is vital to the UK economy, contributing more than 30% of total economic output – estimated at over £640 billion direct GVA (1). In an industry founded on innovation and enterprise, the career opportunities are excellent for those with advanced research and problem-solving skills. Moreover, the highly competitive, globalised market ensures a strong need for engineers with the business acumen and project management skills to support these enterprises in bringing products to market. The University of Bolton's MRes in Engineering Management skillfully brings these elements together, so if you're an ambitious engineering or technology graduate seeking to develop research and business skills, this master's degree should prove to be an excellent investment in your future.This MRes is designed to support you in gaining the theoretical knowledge needed to solve technological problems by applying analytical techniques and the strategic and operational business management skills required for commercial success in the engineering sector. Our expert staff will guide you as you gain postgraduate research, problem-solving, critical thinking and evaluation skills. You'll explore the essential elements of business management, including leadership, human resource management and marketing, and develop essential skills such as communication and time management. You'll also have a choice between studying project planning and management or exploring integrated management systems and techniques for quality, sustainability, lean and innovation.
We'll guide you as you attend work placements (either through existing employment or organised short-duration placements), where you'll collect the data and information that will form the basis of your dissertation. By focusing on the problem-solving techniques, research methods and theories relevant to investigating complex engineering business and management problems, we aim to prepare you for success in engineering management roles in this essential industrial sector.
The course is designed to meet professional institution standards in the UK and to support you in achieving Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
(1) https://raeng.org.uk/media/o0hkijvw/engineering-economy-and-place-report-june-2023.pdf accessed on 8 January 2024
Highlights
- This MRes in Engineering Management expertly combines study in our vibrant higher education environment with practical and focused work-based learning and experience. Studying at the University of Bolton allows you to develop essential knowledge and practical experience while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural campus.
- The course is designed to meet professional institution standards in the UK and supports your achievement of Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
- Face-to-face sessions and one-to-one support are offered by our dedicated staff team, who possess a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials.
- You'll have the option to gain an industry-recognised project management qualification assessed by an external provider. The details and costs of this qualification are being developed, and details will be available before you enrol.
- We'll encourage you to develop a mastery of postgraduate-level research techniques and methodologies relevant to engineering and technology.
Key Features
- We'll expect you to undertake two work placements and an industry-based project. Our experienced team will work to find suitable placements to ensure you're supported to achieve the learning outcomes for the MRes.
- Course materials are available online, allowing you to prepare work at home and make the most of the highly interactive in-class tuition.
- Our approach to teaching and learning is student-centred, so we'll work with you on an individual basis, providing tailored help and support throughout your studies.
- By studying alongside students and professionals from other engineering specialisms or alternative industrial sectors, you can benefit from a broader range of knowledge and experience that supports cross-disciplinary thinking.
- This course is based at the University of Bolton's campus in North West England.
- We also offer master's degrees and postgraduate apprenticeships in Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, and this programme is part of a well-established suite of master's programmes offered by the University of Bolton.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- Normally, you should have successfully completed an honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, for instance, engineering or science.
- If you have successfully completed a Level 6 apprenticeship in a relevant area, then you’ll normally be eligible for admission.
- If you have a Level HE5 qualification (such as a HND or foundation degree) and substantial experience in engineering at a senior level, then we'll consider your application. You'll be required to attend an interview and may be asked to undertake additional assessment(s) to determine your suitability for the course.
- We welcome your application if you hold a degree awarded by an overseas institution. The University will assess the equivalence of your qualifications.
- You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
This course addresses contemporary issues in engineering and engineering management. Graduates of the course can explore management positions in engineering or look to take a more technical role in a business setting, leading on change and strategy.
In addition to developing your technical knowledge and experience, this programme will give you greater confidence in your transferable and personal skills. These include project planning and management, leadership, HR management, communication and marketing.
What can I do with this qualification?
Typical occupations include research and development engineer, design and development engineer, system integration engineer, quality assurance/compliance engineer, test/qualification engineer, manufacture/production engineer, maintenance/test engineer, product support engineer, decommissioning/disposal engineer, supply chain/procurement engineer, and engineering business manager. You will likely seek to achieve Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, and this master's is designed to meet the academic requirements leading to this professional registration.
Research is an exciting career path that will allow you to explore working in research and development roles or academia. An MRes can also be used as a stepping stone for those who wish to continue to an MPhil or PhD.
Alternative career options
Graduates can also use the qualification to enter a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some possibilities include:
- Research and development
- Teaching and education
- Project management
- Test engineering
- Consultancy
- Manufacturing
- Medicine
- Materials science
- Civil engineering
- Chemical engineering
- Quality management
- Product management
Professional Recognition
The University of Bolton's MRes Engineering Management uses UK-SPEC learning outcomes and is designed to meet the academic requirements leading to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. Please see the Engineering Council UK website for further details of UK-SPEC.
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
International Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Partner Organisation Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Teaching & Assessment
This Master of Research (MRes) degree combines taught modules with a significant amount of supervised research. For the taught modules, we offer a range of teaching and learning approaches, including lectures, seminars, workshops, practical sessions and tutorials. These are supported by online discussions and activities posted on the University's virtual learning environment (VLE).
The work-based project modules and dissertation involve workshops, independent learning and tutor support, which may be face-to-face or through the VLE. Our experienced team will work with you to find suitable placements to ensure you are supported to achieve the learning outcomes for the MRes.
Overall, we expect you to be relatively autonomous and self-directed in your studies, but of course, we'll offer you plenty of encouragement and support along the way. Each module on the programme involves several assessments, contributing to your final grade for the module and your overall master's qualification. Assessment types are varied but typically include assignments, practical work, projects and oral presentations at the end of the programme.
We adopt a blended learning and teaching style, including online delivery and engagement where appropriate.
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
